The Palin Interview

First, there’s more better journalism here. Among other things we learn that Palin, apparently, “knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America.” Impressive. McCain’s “I love Maine” panegyrics during the last three minutes are an added bonus. He promises that when he becomes president, he won’t return to Maine to feast on the life-sustaining blood and organs of its fine, fine people. Good to know!

And now, back to Palin’s interview, which was — if you enjoy a towering geyser of cliches and uninformed evasions — awesome. I’d agree that Gibson seems to have been barely conscious in developing the questions, but the good news is that it seems he didn’t actually need to be for Palin to affirm my assessment that her ignorance on foreign policy is peerless among recent vice presidential nominees. This is my favorite part:

GIBSON: Do you agree with the Bush doctrine?

PALIN: In what respect, Charlie?

GIBSON: The Bush — well, what do you — what do you interpret it to be?

PALIN: His world view.

GIBSON: No, the Bush doctrine, enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war.

PALIN: I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hell bent on destroying our nation. There have been blunders along the way, though. There have been mistakes made. And with new leadership, and that’s the beauty of American elections, of course, and democracy, is with new leadership comes opportunity to do things better.

Here’s the rest of the interview: